New church organ is a gift that reverberates through generations

Richard Simpson, rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church, is proud of the organ that the church community helped to move from a closed parish and restore.
Sandy Quadros Bowles photo The latest addition to St. Francis Episcopal Church creates a joyful noise for parishioners and music lovers to savor.

A 1914 Hook & Hastings pipe organ was recently installed at the church to replace its nearly 60-year-old electronic organ. The vintage pipe organ is new to Holden, but no stranger to the Episcopal community of central Massachusetts.

The organ had provided the music at Christ Church of South Barre. The church recently closed, silencing the organ that had been an integral part of the parish.

The generous spirit of community members and the support of the Episcopal diocese allowed the rich sounds of the organ to reverberate once again, church rector Richard Simpson said.

The organ’s history is as rich as its sound. The nearly century-old organ was donated to the church in the early 20th century by South Barre mill owners. Many of their workers attended the church.

When that church closed, the diocese agreed to make the organ available to St. Francis. But, although the organ itself was a free gift, moving and refurbishing it would cost about $60,000, no small amount in economically challenging times.

Church members agreed to fund the project, and donations even came in from community members who did not belong to the church but appreciated the musical and cultural aspect of having a pipe organ in town, Simpson said.

The gift especially touched the hearts of former Christ Church of South Barre parishioners who now worship in Holden.

“It meant a lot,’’ Simpson said. “For the new church members, it was great to see and hear it.’’

The timing of the new organ fit, he said. The electronic organ at St. Francis, had done yeoman’s work through the years but was approaching the end of its life, Simpson said. He estimated the electric organ was about 60 years old.

The new organ has a “great sound,’’ he said. And a timeless one. With good care, the sound should enrich the lives of many generations, he said.

Although the organ is already part of church services, an official dedication will be held Nov. 25, the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend.

Details are still being worked out, but Charles Nwachukwu, the church’s minister of music, and others in the church community hope to host a performance on the organ. They hope the event will attract both fellow church members and the community at large.

Closing the South Barre church, or any house of worship, can be painful, Simpson said.

But with the gift of the organ, “there’s new life that comes out of it,’’ he said. “There is definitely renewal.’’

The gift “goes to the heart of what our faith is about,’’ he said. “Gift-giving is a joyous thing. It does bring a new life to this community.’’